Southern Miss players and head coach Jay Hopson run onto the field at the start of a conference game against Rice at M.M. Roberts Stadium on Saturday, September 22, 2018. (Photo: Susan Broadbridge/Hattiesburg American)Buy Photo

HATTIESBURG — Auburn is a more talented football team than Southern Miss. Even the most dedicated USM supporters shouldn't have a problem admitting this.

The Tigers are the No. 10 team in the country for a reason. They're the defending SEC West champions with wins over Alabama, Georgia and Washington over the last 12 months. They allow the fewest touchdowns per game of any team in the country and have prevented more touchdowns from inside the red zone than any other team. The Tigers have finished in the top 12 in the national recruiting rankings every year since 2010 with an average ranking of eighth.

Auburn doesn't win games by accident. But it is a little bit interesting how Southern Miss' strengths should match up with Auburn's few weaknesses when the two teams face off on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

For starters, Auburn's stellar defense is a little bit weaker against the pass than it is against the run. The Tigers rank 62nd in the nation in passing yards allowed per game compared to ranking 20th in run defense and have already allowed nine passing plays of 30 yards or longer. For a Southern Miss team that earns such a high percentage of its yardage throwing the ball (72.7 percent), chunking out big plays through the air could lead to some offensive success against the Tigers' dominant defense.

The other phase of the game, though, is where Southern Miss matches up best with Auburn. The Tigers' offense has been a bit of a work in progress throughout 2018, especially in critical situation. Auburn ranks 92nd in the FBS in third-down conversion rate and 85th in red zone touchdown rate. Additionally, the Tigers' offense hasn't done a great job of charging into the open field. Auburn's 13 plays of 20 yards or longer rank 103rd in the country. By contrast, Southern Miss' defense has allowed just six plays of 20 yards or longer, tied for the fifth-best mark in the FBS.

Traditionally a run-first offense under head coach Gus Malzahn, Auburn has been a more productive passing team in 2018, led by potential first-round pick Jarrett Stidham at quarterback. Or, more accurately, Auburn has struggled to find success running the football against FBS schools. In three games against FBS opponents, Auburn is averaging 3.09 yards per carry on 119 attempts. Sure, two of those games were against historically-stout defenses LSU and Washington. But Southern Miss' defense isn't much of a slouch either.

USM has the No. 9 total defense in the FBS, allowing 271.7 yards per game. This includes the No. 3 pass defense in the nation and slotting as one of the five teams in the FBS to have allowed just one rushing touchdown on the year, along with Auburn, Alabama, Iowa and NC State.

Does Auburn have advantages? Obviously. Auburn's run defense is stellar and USM's run offense had been borderline non-existent until last week's game against Rice. Auburn's front seven is monstrous and should present some challenges for the USM team that allowed five sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown against UL-Monroe.

Saturday will be USM's biggest test of 2018. Athletically, physically and environmentally, the Golden Eagles won't face another opponent like Auburn. But, if everything goes right, Southern Miss has the firepower to keep this game close.

Southern Miss (2-1, 1-0 C-USA) versus Auburn (3-1, 1-1 SEC)

WHEN, WHERE: 3 p.m. CT, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.

TV: SEC Network

RADIO: 104.5 FM Hattiesburg

SERIES, LAST MEETING: Auburn leads the series 17-5. Auburn won the last meeting 27-13 in 2008.

WHAT TO WATCH: Auburn enters the game ranked No. 10 in the country coming off a blowout win over Arkansas, its first SEC win of 2018. Southern Miss is also coming off a conference win, a 40-22 drubbing of Rice last weekend. For Auburn, Saturday is a bit of a tune-up before next week's SEC West matchup against a talented Mississippi State team. For Southern Miss, this game is a challenge before a bye week heading into an even more important challenge, a face off against C-USA favorite North Texas.